Agricultural machinery



Spt- 16, 1930. w.A11-KENHEAD AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY Filed Nov. 1s. 1928 5 sheets-sheet 1* l/VV/VTOR LIVE TTRNEYS Sept. 16, 1930.v w. AITKENHEAD 1,775,711

VAGRllCUL'IURAI.: MACHINERY Filed NOV. 13. 1928 3 Sheets-'Sheet 2 /NvENToR Y mmm, ATTORNEYS.

Sept 16, 1930. w. AITKENHEAD AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY Filed Nov. 13, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED s'rfATl'szs e 1,775,4711af;

WILLIAM AITxENHEAnoF rnrnswonrn, ENGLAND AGRICULTURAL MACHINE-RY yapplicanim' med November 1,3, 192s, serial No. 319,092, and in Great Britain November 1e, 1927.

The invention relates to an improved agricultural machine, more particularly suitable for the thinning of crops, digging of potatoes andthe like purposes.

According to the invention, a plurality of digging implements, such as hoes, shovels, forks, spuds or the like are mounted to be bodilyrotated about ahorizontal or substantially horizontal axis in a plane parallel to the direction of motion of the machine, and arealso mounted on lateral axes which, are always maintained parallel to a horizontal plane,

such as the ground upon which the implement is working, whilst means areprovided to displace the tools' periodically' at right angles' to the direction of the motion of the machine. Usually the implement -will comprise ground wheels, and the machine be operated by the motion of such wheels.

In one example of the invention, the machine comprises a frame supporting a pair of wheels, spaced outof axial line with each other and rotating in a plane parallel'with the direction ofmotion of the machine about stub axles on saidframe, these wheels being interconnected by cross-barsV freely pivotedthere-y to at each end to'corresponding points and carrying horizontal pivotal supports for the digging implements, relatively stationary cam means being provided on the machine for the guiding ot Ysaid implements about their pivotal supports. f

The inventionwill be more particularly'derscribed with `reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figi 1` is an outside elevation of one con-v struction o'f the improved machine. d

Fig.l 2is a corresponding end view, and Fig. 3 is a plan view .(in part) of the machine. Y A l l Figs. 4 and 5 are vdetached inverted plan view of two cams hereinafter described.- p

The machine sho-Wn comprises a frame comvposed of a pair of side members 1, 2, adapted to receive bolts 3, 4, forming stub axles for wheels 5, 6, which are offset one from the other and which are adaptedto rotate on the ground. The frame may be provided with extension handles, as indicated at 7, whereby the whole frame may be lifted off the ground to a'fore carriage or other' means ing about their pivots. Y

and swung aroundthe draw axle 8 attached the apparatus along theground.y

Each Wheel is provided with a number of perforations 9, in certainoi' which are detach# ably and pivotally mounted cross-pieces 10,` extending from one wheel. 5'to the other 6. These cross-'pieces 10ca`n`fbe detachedwhen desired and others of different form and purposes substituted therefor.V The :spacingof these cross-pieces i 10` can :be Y adjusted asf'd'e'- sired, and as sho-wn'in the drawings,:Fig:` 1,

groups of perforationsareformed inthe wheels for this purpose.` In the example shown, three'igroups of perforations a, b, c are formed, onegroup fa consisting fot 6 perforations equallylspaced apart by 60 Vsubstantially adjacent the periphery of the-wheels, a

for drawing second group b consisting of-,7 perforations also equally spaced apart, and a third group c of' 8 perforations.

' VThe cross-pieces 10 are in the form of forgings of arched formation and with their extremities formed with perforated bosses,

the outer facesof` which are parallel with one f' another and'with the inner faces otv the ground wheels 5, 6, although thelinain portion of each cross-piece is'diagonally disposed in relation to the planes of the wheels. Studs or pivots 1 0al and nuts serve to carry and connect the cross-pieces to theI wheels, while leaving the wheels free' to. rotate withoutatfecting the 'diagonal disposition of the crossjpieces, -except to carrythem bodily around. The eccentric and straddle-lilre setting of the cross-pieces prevents the 'cross-pieces rotat- Each cross-pieee 10 is formed with a boss 11 forming a horizontal bearing for an implerEhe implement such as a ment carrier 12. hoe, fork, shovel,spud 13 or the likeV can be detachably secured thereon by pin-and-slot connection 14 to enable the implements to be fixed in any one of a number of vertical positions by afbolt 15 to any desired depth.

penetrate the ground Yto The'carrier 12 has, in the form of construc- Y tion illustrated, three extension pieces"16,17,

18 adanted'to co-operate with lcamsuriaces,

19,20 and 21, 22 respectively. f

These cam surfaces are best seen in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The cam 21 is in the form of a metal plate with diagonal channel groove on its under side and is secured at each end to the stub axles 4. The cam 22 is also in the form of a metal plate with diagonal channel or Igroove on its under side and secured at each end to the machine framing. The cams 19 and 2O consist of curved metal bars secured at one end to the cam plate 22, and at or near the other end to cross rods 1, 1b respectively by brackets 1, shown dotted in Fig. 1.

The cam surface 21 is preferably arranged to operate a fairly rapid displacement of the implement 13 about its horizontal axis transversely to the forward direction of motion of the implement, whilst the cam surface 22 moves over the implement from one position to the other, so that with the action of the cam surface 19, 2O leading thereto, the implements are smoothly guided.

The cam surface 21 is provided with guide extensions 25, 26 for the purpose of preventing angular displacement of the carrier 12 about its pivot prior to and subsequent to the transverse displacement thereof during Vits passage along the cam surface 21.

If desired, rollers 23 are provided on lugs connected to the cross-pieces 10 which bear against flat abutment surfaces attached tothe Wheels 5, 6, or which actually may be part. of these, the purpose of which rollers 23 is to assist in taking up the side thrusts due to the action of the implement 13 on the ground.

Additional cam surfaces, or depressions 24 in the side cam surfaces 2O may be provided to give an eXtra motion tothe implement 18 for discharging any material which may stick therein after the digging operation of these is complete. It will be. seen that the implement such as a shovel, fork, spud, hoe or the like will in the forward progressionY of the apparatus over the ground, move down into the ground or the ridge at the side of the wheel 6 and between the wheels, 5 and 6 and dig ay portion of earth which will be displaced laterally of the machine as the implement is moved from the dotted line position to the full line position shown in Fig. 2.

The implements may, if desired, beso spaced around the periphery of the wheels 5, 6, that there will be an untouched space of the ground or earth ridge between successive shovel or fork bites. The machine therefore, will be useful in this case forthe thinning of crops.

The. frame 1.l 2, may preferably have some degree of lateral motion along the draw bar 8, so that irrespective of the direction of forward progression, the device, within limits, can be moved laterally along said bar as desired by means of the handle 7.

The digging implements are preferably adjustable radially upon their supports to regulate the depth of cut or bite into the ground. Further, where hoes or shovels are provided, these preferably have vertical side flanges with sharp edges 27 so that a sharp cut or bite is taken from the ground.

What I claim is 1. An agricultural machine comprising a frame, a pair of ground wheels, of equal diameter, mounted upon parallel offset stub axles in the frame, rigid cross members between the wheels'pivoted at each end to corresponding points in the respective wheels, relatively to the ground, the axes of the pivots being parallel to the wheel axles, digging tools pivotally mounted on the cross members and cam mechanism for imparting a digging motion to each tool in a plane at right angles to the direction of movement of the machine.

2. in an agricultural machine a pair of ground wheels mounted upon olf-set axles and connected by cross members.v which form carriers for digging tools and serve to provide the support and resistance necessary for the carriage and actuation of the digging tools, the actuation being produced bythe bodily rotation of the cross members and tools, and cam mechanism with which the tools contact'during their bodily rotation, as set forth.

3. An agricultural implement comprising inv combination a frame, spaced horizontal stub axles in said frame, a pair of wheels having horizontally displaced centres mounted thereon, cross bars freely pivoted at each end near to the periphery of said wheels, guides on said cross bars in planes parallel to the wheels, digging tools pivotally mounted on said guides, a plurality of projections on said digging tools, stationary camsengaging the said projections during the passage of said tools. and a further set of cams operating on said tools to cause the said tools to swing about their guides at right angles to the motion of the wheels.

4.. An agricultural implement comprising in combination a frame, spaced horizontal stub axles in said frame, a pair of wheels having displaced centres mounted thereon, cross bars freely pivoted at each end near to the periphery of said wheels, horizontal guides on said cross bars in planes parallel to the wheels, digging tools freely mounted on said guides, a plurality of projections on said digging tools, stationary cams engaging the said projection-s during the passage of said tools to allow one tool to clear its neighbour, and a further set of cams operating on said tools to cause the 4said tools to swing about their guides at right angles to the motion of the wheels. and anti-friction rollers on said cross bars adapted to take side thrust of said digging tools.

5. An agricultural implement comprising in combination a frame, spaced horizontal stub axles in said frame, a pair of wheels having displaced centres mounted thereon, cross bars freely pivoted at each end near to the periphery of said Wheels, horizontal guides on said cross bars in planes parallel tothe Wheels, digging tools freely mounted on said guides, a plurality of projections on said digging tools, stationary cams engaged by the said projections during the bodily 

